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For Immediate Release: October 10, 2011 Bayside High School Student to Participate in Macy’s Great American Marching Band PALM BAY, FLORIDA - Mackenzie Newell, a Bayside High School student, was selected out of thousands of applicants to participate in this year’s Macy’s Great American Marching Band. Newell was 1 of only 4 students in Florida selected to participate in this prestigious band with over 185 students, representing every state. Students are selected based on their musical ability and past achievements. The opportunity was open to students from over 14,000 high schools across the United States. “I’m so excited to be one of the four musicians representing the state of Florida at the Macy’s Day Parade in New York City,” exclaimed Newell. “Although I enjoy my position as one of the drum majors for our school band, I miss marching and playing in the band. So playing in the Thanksgiving Day Parade will be even more fun!” Newell will travel to New York City on November 19 and spend a week sightseeing and rehearsing for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade under the direction of Auburn University’s Dr. Richard Good and Ohio State University’s Dr. Jon Woods. “I’ve watched it (the parade) on TV every year for as long as I can remember,” Newell continues, “so, it’s like a dream come true to get to be a part of it.”
On November 24, 2011, Macy's Great American Marching Band will take an honor position among the gigantic helium balloons, impressive floats carrying celebrities, and the nation's top marching bands in the 85th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Honoring America's finest high school musicians, this band is comprised of select students from each of the fifty states and will be complemented by approximately 50 flags and dancers choreographed by Greg Lagola of the famed Cadets Drum Corp of Pennsylvania. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is internationally recognized as the official start of the holiday season and world-famous as a uniquely American entertainment extravaganza. -BPS- |
Newell maintains a perfect 4.0 unweighted GPA, has taken 5 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and is enrolled in 3 more AP courses this year. At Bayside, she is the BETA Club President; Marching Band Drum Major; member of Mu Alpha Theata; National Honor Society, Historian; and a member of the All-County Band and the Tri-State Band. Newell also is captain of Bayside’s Odyssey of the Mind Team, Jefferson Award Committee Chair, Relay for Life Captain, and is the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestras Section Leader. In addition to participating in these numerous clubs and organizations, Newell prepares and serves meals, tutors, and started a musical group at an after school program for low-income children. She also teaches French horn to middle school students and works part-time at a local movie theater.